The zero-dimensional (0D) (H5O2)(C4H14N2S2)2BiCl8: Sb3+ single crystal is obtained by the
cooling crystallization
method. Surprisingly, this compound shows reversible photoluminescence
(PL) upon H5O2
+Cl– removal and insertion. To be specific, the release of H5O2
+Cl– resulted in red-orange
emission with a very low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). While
on the reuptake of it, a bright yellow emission with a nearly 10-fold
increase of PLQY was observed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations
and temperature-dependent PL experiments reveal that significant [SbCl6]3– octahedron distortion induced by guest
(H5O2
+Cl–) removal
at the ground state, especially at the excited state, is responsible
for the disparate PL performance. Encouragingly, we also found that
(C4H14N2S2)2BiCl7: Sb3+ exhibits a fast response (<3
s) to dilute hydrochloric acid with naked-eye perceivable PL color
changes, rendering it a potential sensing material for hydrochloric
acid.